Proverbs: Definition, Types, Characteristics, and Examples

Definition of Proverbs and Examples – You must have heard the phrase “the stake is bigger than the stake” right? This sentence is a proverb that we often hear in Indonesia, especially in Indonesian subjects. Come on, look at some examples and intricacies about the word collection below.

According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary or KBBI, proverbs are a group of words or sentences that have a specific meaning which contains concise sentences, contains comparisons, advice and human behavior. This sentence is often inserted in conversations to advise, compare, or satirize someone.

In Indonesia, there are lots of proverbs that you can hear and learn.
Check out some examples of proverbs and explanations about the group of words below/

Definition of Proverbs

According to Wikipedia, Proverb is a group of words or sentences that have a certain meaning, or things that express to do something about someone. This proverb includes several types of proverbs, namely sayings, proverbs, parables, parables, mottos, thimbles/pameo.
Proverb can be interpreted as an expression that is stated indirectly, but when conveying it is implied for something that can be understood by the reader or listener. According to the Linguistic Dictionary, a proverb is a sentence that already has a form, meaning and function in a wider society.

Types of Proverbs

1. The proverb

A proverb is a type of proverb that contains advice from old people in the form of a sentence. Usually this proverb can be used to break the other person during a debate or so on. An example of this proverb is that little by little, over time it becomes a hill; let it be slow as long as it’s safe; cayenne pepper in small pieces; like a areca nut halved.

for example:

a. Like earth and sky,

b. Like a areca nut halved,

c. Little by little, it will become a hill,

d. Even if it’s slow as long as it’s safe.

2. Parables

Meanwhile, parable is a proverb that contains words that can be expressed in a situation or about someone’s behavior. You do this by taking comparisons from the natural surroundings and starting sentences with the words like, like, like and so on. For example: like a tiger hiding its claws.

For example:

a. like a nut halved,

b. like a tiger hiding its claws.

3. Like / Tamsil

Ibarat or tamsil is a proverb in the form of a figurative sentence that often uses the word simile. The purpose of this tamsil is to compare a case or a thing. An example is: The older the taro the older it becomes.

4. Motto

The motto is a group of words, sentences or phrases that are used as guidelines and principles. Examples include being diligent from being smart, being clean from being healthy, saving from being rich, and other proverbs, namely:

a. Save the base rich,

b. Diligence is the mother of good luck,

c. clean healthy base and so on.

5. Thimble/Pameo

Thimble or what can be called byword is a type of proverb which contains ridicule, satire, and also a warning. For example, life is reluctant to die unwilling, embarrassed to ask astray on the road, like a crab on a rock, and many more.

Proverb Function

Proverbs are not just an interesting, dense, and meaningful arrangement of words.
Proverbs have several functions, especially functions in the social field.

Here are some of the functions of proverbs.

a. Is the identity of a people or individuals
b. Making conversations and spoken language more beautiful.
c. Being a form of world conditions or also observations in an event.
d. Can be used as advice.

 

Language Features

In proverbs there are characteristics that can be seen as explained below.

a. The structure of the arrangement is fixed which means the words in the proverb are certain and cannot be changed.

b. Usually used to satirize or embellish language.

c. Words that are used regularly are pleasing to the ear and have meaning.

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d. Created or created based on very careful views and comparisons of nature and events that occur in society.

e. Proverbs are formed with dense and beautiful language bonds so that they will stick in society for generations.

Example of Proverbs

Here we include some examples of proverbs

  1. There are shrimp behind the rock: There is a hidden purpose
  2. Where there is sugar there are ants: where there is pleasure many people come
  3. Like water on a taro leaf: People who don’t have a stand, always change
  4. Rippled water is not deep: People who talk a lot usually don’t have much knowledge
  5. Like a chicken that loses its mother: Divorced because it lost its foundation
  6. It’s like eating a simalakama fruit: A person is faced with two very difficult choices to choose from
  7. Empty barrels make a loud sound: Stupid people usually talk a lot
  8. Dogs bark, caravans pass: Even though there are many obstacles in our efforts, we must not give up hope
  9. Like a frog in a shell: People who don’t have much knowledge
  10. Stake size than stake: More expenses than income/income
  11. Bear the same weight, carry the same light: Together in joy and sorrow, good and bad are equally borne
  12. Playing with wet water, playing with scorched fire: Every business/job has risks/difficulties
  13. Not yet cuddled: Not yet successful but already having fun first
  14. Not yet spurred to crow: Not yet knowledgeable/rich/powerful yet arrogant
  15. Like a peanut forgets its skin: People who don’t know themselves, forget where they came from
  16. Like a thorn in the flesh: Always displeasing and disturbing the mind
  17. There is no ivory that is not cracked: there is nothing that is without blemish
  18. Like fire in the husks: invisible evil deeds
  19. Little by little it will become a hill: Little by little it will become a lot
  20. Like a betel nut split in two: Someone who is twin/same nature and character
  21. There is no rattan root so: If there is no good one, then the bad one can also be used

Examples of proverbs from A to Z and their meanings

Proverb Letter A

a. There is money dear brother, no money floating brother
(do good to others only when you have a lot of wealth)
b. There is a shrimp behind the rock
(There is a hidden meaning)
c. Where there is smoke there is fire
(Every effect must have a cause)

Proverbs Letter B

a. Like fire and smoke
(a close and inseparable friendship)
b. Like water on a taro leaf
(a person who is not steady)
c. Like water and oil
(Two things that can’t mix)

Proverbs Letter C

a. Quick feet light hands
(People who like to help in kindness)
b. Chopped two immediately
(One way, two jobs done)
c. Leaning that will befall
(A deed that will bring harm)

Proverb Letter D

a. The world is not as wide as a moringa leaf
(the world is wide and not narrow)
b. The kitchen is not smoky
(very poor)
c. Given a heart for a heart
(Ungrateful person)

Proverb Letter E

a. Chips scattered, rainy day
(Very unlucky)
b. Enau a bar of two sigainya
(a woman who cheats on her husband)
d. Enau looking for (climbing) sigai
(Women looking for men)

Letter F proverb

a. Dawn is rising, the eagle is welcoming
(Welcome the day with a spirit of trying/working persistent/strong)

Proverb Letter G

a. Elephants in the eyelids are not visible, germs across the ocean are visible
(self-inflicted are not visible, other people’s faults are clearly visible)
b. Dig a hole to close the hole
(Object to pay other debts)
c. An elephant swallowed by a snake
(a big man’s child falls in love with a lower person’s child)

Proverb Letter H

a. After it’s sweet, it’s thrown away
(thrown away after it’s no longer used)
b. Smells like an angel then
(Very fragrant, wears a lot of fragrance)
c. Save the bottom of the rich
(Thrifty people will be rich)

Proverb Letter I

a. Follow the heart to die, follow the feeling of perishing
(People who only follow their heart without using their mind will fail in their life)
b. Beautiful news than appearance
(a different situation from what was imagined)
c. Fish tied to nets arrives
(Quickly respond)

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Proverb Letter J

a. So charcoal ash
(Already used or stale)
b. Far in the eyes, close to the heart
(Even though they are far apart, they are still remembered in the heart)
c. Fall on the bed
(Get a big advantage)

Proverb Letter K

a. Peanuts forget the skin
(someone who forgets the nasal origin)
b. Small cayenne pepper
(looks small but brave, credible or dangerous)
c. Because the value of a droplet is broken by the milk of a pair
(Because a small mistake causes everything to go wrong)

Proverbs Letter L

a. Another in another mouth in the heart
(Words spoken are different from those in the heart)
b. Tongue without bones
(Humans are very easy to lie/indulge in promises)
c. Tooth softer than tongue
(Very gentle)

Proverbs Letter M

a. Eat hot porridge.
(Too haste to end up losing and disappointed)
b. Eat poison-stained peelings.
(Proverbs that describe condolences)
c. The cheaper, the more bargained
(Never grateful for gifts, instead always feel less and want more)

Proverb Letter N

a. Nan lurah also filled with water.
(People who are already rich will also get richer)
b. Rice is not cold, plates are not cracked.
(Both parties don’t want to anymore)
c. Nibung nation bet young.
(Old people who behave like young people)

O Letter Proverb

a. Medicine is far away, disease is almost.
(a woman who misses being away from her husband)
b. Oleng like cupak drifting.
(way of waddling like boasting)
c. People with pointed horns.
(a person who is famous because he is a bad person)
d. You can hear the waves, but you can’t see the sand.
(a person’s name is already well-known, but the results of his work are not yet visible)

Proverb Letter P

a. Good at water grease.
(creative people who can take advantage of useless items)
b. Broken stick, tanned.
(keep trying even though it has been hit by thousands of failures)
c. rhinoceros deaf ears
(pretends not interested, but really wants)

Proverb Letter R

a. Low mountains, high hopes.
(high expectations)
b. Like a tiger, heart of a mouse.
(looks fierce and brave, but actually cowardly)
c. Crack no, trawl glue.
(the relationship between the two people who are neither familiar nor hostile)

Proverbs Letter S

a. Soap after evening.
(all businesses will be closed with profits)
b. Wrong step, receding back.
(if you already know the shortcomings and mistakes, you should immediately do self-improvement)
c. While shoving, last galas.
(protect yourself from harm, but keep in mind the benefits)

Proverb Letter T

a. Know in the wind ups and downs.
(good at seeing the situation, so immediately know what is going on)
b. No one in the water.
(a girl who is no longer a virgin)
c. Afraid to point, then spill.
(fear of losing a little, in the end you lose a lot)

Proverb Letter U
a. Tongue joint fingertips.
(spokesperson)
b. Not snakes, not even fish.
(a person who has no establishment)
c. Lucky there, lucky no.
(happy)

Proverbs Letter W

a. Even though it’s small it looks, when it’s big it doesn’t show up.
(people who only see other people’s shortcomings, but do not see their own shortcomings)
b. Time is money.
(Whoever wastes time wastes money)

Proverb Letter Y

a. What is highlighted cannot be, the highlighter stays above.
(already not getting profit, capital from the business is also lost/depleted)
b. What is seen in appearance, which is eaten by taste.
(if you have good intentions, it should be conveyed in a good way too. Because if it is wrong in the way of delivery, then what is intended will be misinterpreted)
c. He who sows the wind, will reap the storm.
(whoever does, then must dare to accept the consequences)